2.2 million petition demanding Medicare for All

Yesterday, 2.2 million petition signatures were delivered to the U.S. House of Representatives to show support of Medicare for All. 

Over a dozen groups that include: Public Citizen, Be a Hero, Business for Medicare for All, Credo Action, Daily Kos, Democracy for America, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Justice Democrats, League of United Latin American Citizens, Move On, Our Revolution, People’s Action, Physicians for a National Health Plan, Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Social Security Works all contributed to getting these signatures. 

According to Common Dreams, A Medicare for All system would reduce administrative costs by $500 billion per year and would cost patients less than employer-sponsored insurance. The proposal also would do away with out-of-pocket costs, such as copays and deductibles, provide for dental care and cover long-term care, including home health care. The legislation also would allow the national insurance program to negotiate to drastically reduce the price of health care, including prescription drugs. 

Upon arrival at Capitol Hill, Capitol police stopped the diverse coalition of progressive advocacy group saying the public was not allowed to deliver items to Congress. 

Capitol Police are actively stopping us from delivering #MedicareForAll petitions to our elected representatives.

We’ve delivered petitions to Congress countless times – we’ve never encountered this before. pic.twitter.com/EUi1kMfgwg

— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) October 15, 2019

The groups were eventually able to deliver the petitions to House Democrats. A majority of the House Democratic caucus has already cosponsored and shown their support for the Medicare for All Act. Unfortunately, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has not allowed the bill to be put to a vote.